Philip Labonte
Encyclopedia
Philip Steven Labonte is an American musician from Massachusetts
, best known as the lead singer of the American metalcore
band All That Remains
and formerly of Shadows Fall
.
and its members were teenagers at the time. The original vocalist of Perpetual Doom was Scott Estes. Labonte, however, took over the vocal position in 1993 after Estes joined the Navy
, and also played the guitar.In August 1993 Phil left to join the United States Marine Corps
. Perpetual Doom remained inactive for 9 months in Phil's absence. In June 1994 upon Phil's return, Perpetual Doom resumed writing with increased intensity. Other members included Ken Robert (vocals, guitar, now of Split Shift), Bill Brault (bass, now in Split Shift), and Steve Gonsalves (drums). Perpetual Doom released a seven track demo in 1995 called "Sorrow's End".
Labonte left Perpetual Doom, however, to be the lead vocalist for Shadows Fall
. Labonte did not play guitar for this band like he did in Perpetual Doom, and was Shadows Fall's first vocalist completing the band's first line up. The band's debut record, Somber Eyes to the Sky
which was a Melodic Death Metal
album that was released in 1997 through Lifeless Records, a label owned by Shadows Fall guitarist Matt Bachand
. Labonte was asked to leave Shadows Fall due to "musical differences" and was replaced with current vocalist Brian Fair
, leaving Somber Eyes To The Sky as the only Shadows Fall record with Labonte on vocals.
In 1998, Labonte formed All That Remains as a side project. After leaving Shadows Fall, All That Remains became his main priority. Their debut record, Behind Silence and Solitude
, was released in 2002 through Prosthetic Records
/Razor & Tie
. A short time later, Labonte tried out for Killswitch Engage
after the departure of their vocalist, Jesse Leach
. Although he lost the audition to current vocalist Howard Jones
, the band told him he was a close second. In Killswitch Engage's DVD "(Set This) World Ablaze
", Labonte states that Jones is a better singer than him. In 2010, he was asked to fill in as Killswitch's vocalist during the band's tour with The Devil Wears Prada
and Dark Tranquility after Howard had to drop off the beginning of the tour. All That Remains' most recent release, For We Are Many
, was released in the fall of 2010.
In March 2011 Labonte appeared on CNN in an interview where he discussed his experiences during the 2011 earthquake in Japan. All That Remains was completing a sound check at the time the quake struck.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, best known as the lead singer of the American metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band All That Remains
All That Remains (band)
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
and formerly of Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
.
History
Labonte's first band was in the mid-nineties by the name of Perpetual Doom. The band played Death MetalDeath metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and its members were teenagers at the time. The original vocalist of Perpetual Doom was Scott Estes. Labonte, however, took over the vocal position in 1993 after Estes joined the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and also played the guitar.In August 1993 Phil left to join the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Perpetual Doom remained inactive for 9 months in Phil's absence. In June 1994 upon Phil's return, Perpetual Doom resumed writing with increased intensity. Other members included Ken Robert (vocals, guitar, now of Split Shift), Bill Brault (bass, now in Split Shift), and Steve Gonsalves (drums). Perpetual Doom released a seven track demo in 1995 called "Sorrow's End".
Labonte left Perpetual Doom, however, to be the lead vocalist for Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
. Labonte did not play guitar for this band like he did in Perpetual Doom, and was Shadows Fall's first vocalist completing the band's first line up. The band's debut record, Somber Eyes to the Sky
Somber Eyes to the Sky
Somber Eyes to the Sky is the debut studio album by Shadows Fall, released in 1998 on Matt Bachand's own label Lifeless Records. This was the band's only release with lead singer Philip Labonte .-Track listing:-Personnel:Shadows Fall...
which was a Melodic Death Metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
album that was released in 1997 through Lifeless Records, a label owned by Shadows Fall guitarist Matt Bachand
Matt Bachand
Matt Bachand is an American guitarist born on April 29, 1977. He has very strong death metal and thrash metal influences and he is also backing vocalist for the heavy metal band Shadows Fall. He is known for his deep growls or death growl which is often heard in death metal genre...
. Labonte was asked to leave Shadows Fall due to "musical differences" and was replaced with current vocalist Brian Fair
Brian Fair
Brian Fair is an American musician from Massachusetts, best known as lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Shadows Fall. He graduated from Milford High School in 1993 and went on to study literature at Boston University.-History:...
, leaving Somber Eyes To The Sky as the only Shadows Fall record with Labonte on vocals.
In 1998, Labonte formed All That Remains as a side project. After leaving Shadows Fall, All That Remains became his main priority. Their debut record, Behind Silence and Solitude
Behind Silence and Solitude
The album differs from future releases, as it is void of any clean vocals and contains more prominent elements of melodic death metal, including harmonized/dual guitar riffs and melody progression...
, was released in 2002 through Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records is a record label specializing in heavy metal recordings. Founded by E.J. Johantgen and Dan Fitzgerald both former employees of Columbia Records, in Los Angeles, California in 1998...
/Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
. A short time later, Labonte tried out for Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
after the departure of their vocalist, Jesse Leach
Jesse Leach
Jesse David Leach is an American musician from Providence, Rhode Island, and is best known as being the former lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and later for being the vocalist for the blues rock band Seemless...
. Although he lost the audition to current vocalist Howard Jones
Howard Jones (heavy metal musician)
Howard Jones is an American lead singer for the band Killswitch Engage. He was also the lead singer of Blood Has Been Shed before moving onto Killswitch Engage.-Blood Has Been Shed:*I Dwell on Thoughts of You...
, the band told him he was a close second. In Killswitch Engage's DVD "(Set This) World Ablaze
(Set This) World Ablaze
World Ablaze is the first live album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. The DVD is of a live show that was taped at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 25, 2005...
", Labonte states that Jones is a better singer than him. In 2010, he was asked to fill in as Killswitch's vocalist during the band's tour with The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (band)
The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 2005, they are currently signed to Warner Music Group...
and Dark Tranquility after Howard had to drop off the beginning of the tour. All That Remains' most recent release, For We Are Many
For We Are Many
For We Are Many is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band, All That Remains. Released on October 12, 2010, it is the third album by the band to be produced by the Killswitch Engage guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz, who also produced This Darkened Heart and The Fall of Ideals...
, was released in the fall of 2010.
In March 2011 Labonte appeared on CNN in an interview where he discussed his experiences during the 2011 earthquake in Japan. All That Remains was completing a sound check at the time the quake struck.
Discography
- Perpetual Doom - "Sorrow's End" (Demo) (1995)
- Shadows FallShadows FallShadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
- "To Ashes (EP)" (1997) - Shadows FallShadows FallShadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
- "Somber Eyes to the SkySomber Eyes to the SkySomber Eyes to the Sky is the debut studio album by Shadows Fall, released in 1998 on Matt Bachand's own label Lifeless Records. This was the band's only release with lead singer Philip Labonte .-Track listing:-Personnel:Shadows Fall...
" (1997) - All That RemainsAll That Remains (band)All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
- "Behind Silence and SolitudeBehind Silence and SolitudeThe album differs from future releases, as it is void of any clean vocals and contains more prominent elements of melodic death metal, including harmonized/dual guitar riffs and melody progression...
" (2002) - All That RemainsAll That Remains (band)All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
- "This Darkened HeartThis Darkened HeartThis Darkened Heart is the second studio album by the metalcore band All That Remains, released on March 23, 2004. It includes the singles "This Darkened Heart", "Tattered on My Sleeve" and "The Deepest Gray", all three of which had music videos created for them.-Background:Unlike their first album...
" (2004) - All That RemainsAll That Remains (band)All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
- "The Fall of IdealsThe Fall of IdealsThe Fall of Ideals is the third studio album by the American metalcore band, All That Remains, released on July 11, 2006. Three music videos were created for the songs "This Calling", "Not Alone" and "The Air That I Breathe"...
" (2006) - All That RemainsAll That Remains (band)All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
- "OvercomeOvercome (All That Remains album)Overcome is the fourth studio album by the American metalcore band, All That Remains. It was released on September 16, 2008. Overcome is the first album by All That Remains since their first, Behind Silence and Solitude, not produced by Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage, as well as the first...
" (2008) - All That RemainsAll That Remains (band)All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
- "For We Are ManyFor We Are ManyFor We Are Many is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band, All That Remains. Released on October 12, 2010, it is the third album by the band to be produced by the Killswitch Engage guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz, who also produced This Darkened Heart and The Fall of Ideals...
" (2010)
Guest appearances
- Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
- "Self Revolution" - Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
- "To The Sons Of Man" - Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
- "Hope Is..." - Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
- "Irreversal" - LigeiaLigeia (band)Ligeia is an American Metal & Hardcore band from Massachusetts formed in 2003.-History:Originally formed in the winter of 2003 by Keith Holuk and Ryan Ober, Ligeia solidified their line-up with the additions of Brandon Whipple and Patrick Murphy in 2007...
- "Makin' Love to a Murderer" - Flatlined - "Parallel Reflections"
- The Autumn OfferingThe Autumn OfferingThe Autumn Offering is an American metalcore band that formed in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1999. After achieving some degree of local success, the band was signed to Stillborn Records, founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, in 2003. The band released one album through this label...
- "Homecoming" - The Acacia StrainThe Acacia StrainThe Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band from Chicopee, Massachusetts. Originally founded in 2001, the band itself has undergone numerous changes in the member line-up...
- "Predator; Never Prey" - Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
- "Dark Star" - UnearthUnearthUnearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
- "Grave of Opportunity" (music video) - JastaJamey JastaJamey Jasta is an American musician from New Haven, Connecticut, best known as the lead vocalist of the hardcore band Hatebreed and sludge metal band Kingdom of Sorrow...
- "Something You Should Know"